Self-opening and closing cap for collapsible tubes



G. L. LATEUR July 20, 19 37.

SELF QRENING AND CLOSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Aug. 31, 1935 IN V EN TOR. 614s TON Z 4 721/1? Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES SELF-OPENING AND oLosING-oAP: FOR

COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Gaston LQLateur, San FranciscouCalif.

Application August 31, 1935, Serial No. 38,834

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in selfopening and closing caps for collapsible tubes, and it'consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a selfopening and closing cap for collapsible tubes in which the exit opening for the tube contents is normally closed by a tongue, this tongue being withdrawn from the tubeoutlet when pressure is applied to the tube whereby the material will issue from the opening in a ribbon-like form. As soon as the pressure on the-tube is released the tongue will immediately close the opening, thus sealing the contents of the tube until the next use.

The deviceis simple in construction and canbe applied to a standard toothpaste tube. The mouth or exit opening of the tube is closed by a stopper in addition to the tongue, and this stopper is placed over the tube mouth at the place of manufacture and is only removed by the purchaser of the tube. This stopper prevents accidental leaks through the tube mouth should pressure be applied to the tube during transportaion. I

The device is extremely simple in construction and is durable and efiicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in

which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the device showing it operatively applied to a collapsible tube;

Figure 2 is a section along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the tongue in open position;

Figure 4 is a view of a portion of the cap; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the device.

In carrying out my invention I provide a collapsible tube indicated at I, and this tube has a neck portion 2 provided with a shoulder 3, and a reduced portion 4. A hollow piston 5 is slidably mounted in the reduced neck portion 4 and the piston has an integral annular ring-shaped portion 6 with an integral U-shaped member 1 extending above the ring. At the top of the U- shaped member I dispose an integral tongue 8, and it will be noted from Figure 3 that the top of the tongue has a longitudinal groove 9 therein.

A cap 10 is permanently secured to the enlarged base portion of the neck 2, and this capcooperates with the reduced neck portion 4 for providing an annular space II in which a coiled spring I2 is disposed. The spring bears against the shoulder 3 and against the under surface of the ring 6. The outer"periphery of the ring slidably contacts with the inner surface of the cap l0, and an annular packing I3 is mounted in the periphery and prevents any leakage past the ring.

The top of the cap Ill is provided with an opening or mouth l4, see Figure 3, and this mouth is elongated as clearly shown in Figure 5. A portion of the metal forming the cap is bent inwardly as at l5, see Figures 3 and Land acts as a guide for the tongue 8. Figure 1 shows the tongue 8 as extending throughout the length of the" openingl, while Figure 2 shows the outer end of the tongue of a width equal'to the width ofthe opening'or mouth 14; The outward movement of the tongue is limited by the shoulder [B of the U-shaped portion 1 contacting with the inner edge ll of the inwardly bent portion I5. The wall l8 of the recess 9 also contacts with the inner surface of the cap Ill disposed adjacent to the opening l4, and this limits the outward movement of the tongue.

The shape of the tongue therefore provides a double seal for the opening I4. The outer end of the tongue not only completely fills the opening l4, but in addition the portion of the tongue disposed adjacent to the outer end carries the shoulder I8 that abuts against the inner surface of the cap Ill, and further acts as a seal.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The parts are assembled in the manner shown in Figure 1, and the cap in is permanently secured to the base of the neck 2. The spring I2 is strong enough to move the piston ring 6 upwardly, and to cause the tongue 8 to close the opening [4 in the manner shown in Figure 2. If now the tube l is compressed the material not shown in the tube will be forced through the hollow piston 5, and will fill the cavity at the top of the cap I0. Further compression of the tube I will cause more material to be forced into the cavity A provided between the top of the piston ring 6 and the top of the cap so that this material will act upon the upper surface IQ of the ring 6, and will force this ring with the piston 5 inwardly against the compression of the spring l2. This movement will be in pro- .the contents of the tubeuntil further use. Inorder to prevent accidental loss of the tube contents between the time the tube leaves the portion to the amount of pressure exerted in compressing the tube I.

Figure 3 shows the limit of the inward movement of the tongue 8. In this figure the under surface 20 of the ring 6 has abutted the upper edge 2| of the reduced portion of the neck 2. Further inward movement of the tongue is therefore prevented. The material will now flow out through the mouth [4 in direct ratio to the amount of continued collapsing pressure on the tube I, and the shape of the opening I 4 will cause the material to issue in a ribbon-like form. If the contents of the tube are toothpaste the ribbon-like form of the material will cause'it to lie fiat on the brush. 1

Upon release of the collapsing pressure on the tube l, the spring l2 will be strong enough to move the hollow piston 5 outwardly and to force, the tongue 8 into closed position. In this way the opening I4 is entirely closed and will seal manufacturer and the time the tube is purchased I provide an auxiliary stopper 22. This stopper covers the opening M and is held in place by a wire '23 which in turn is secured at 24' to the cap it. This stopper remains on the tube until the tube is purchased, and it will be seen that if the tube is accidentally compressed to a slight extent during handling prior to purchasing, the stopper will prevent the material from passing'out through the opening I4. The purchaser removes the wire 23 and stopper 22, and the device will then function in the manner already described.

It is obvious that a guide-similar to the guide .15 can be provided on both sides of the tongue 8.

I It is also possible to cause a portion of the wire 23 to lie adjacent to the cap 10 and to provide the cap with a groove for receiving the wire.

' covers the opening.

This will stop any lateral movement of the wire on the cap.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with a collapsible tube provided with a neck, of a cap enclosing the neck and having an outlet opening, a piston slidably mounted in the neck and cap, a closure carried by the piston, a spring for moving the piston for causing the closure to cover the opening, the

contents of said tube when compressed forcing the tube contents against the piston for moving it against the spring and opening the closure,

said cap carrying a flange for guiding the closure in its movement and for acting as a stop for limiting further movement of the closure when the end of the closure is flush with the outer end surface of the cap.

2. The combination with a collapsible tube, provided with a neck, of a cap enclosing the neck and having an outlet opening, a hollow piston slidably mounted in the neck and cap and forming with the cap a compartment for receiving material from the tube, a closure carried by the piston, a spring for moving the piston for causing the closure to cover the opening, said tube when collapsed forcing the contents in the tube into the compartment for moving the piston against the spring and opening the closure, whereby the material will issue out through the opening until the pressure on the tube contents falls below the spring pressure, said cap carrying a flange that guides the closure in its movement and acts as a stop for the piston when the closure GASTON .L. LA'I'EUR. 

